Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has called for a National Action Plan on Environment to facilitate the reduction of malaria infection in the country.
The governor made the call on Wednesday when he received officials of Federal Ministry of Health Partners on Roll-Back Malaria led by Dr Nelson Eze, on advocacy visit, at Government House, Asaba.
He said until certain actions were taken in the management of the environment, investments in the treatment of malaria would be “a scratch on the surface’’.
He thanked the global partners for the inclusion of Delta among 13 states for the programme and assured that Delta would contribute its counterpart fund.
“There is no doubt that malaria has been a major public health problem in this country and to that extent, we are worried because it disturbs the family life.
“I must commend the Federal Ministry of Health and global partners for all the support over the years.
“Yes, it is good that we invest in Insecticides-treated mosquito nets and other preventive measures but we must concentrate on how to take care of the environment to reduce malaria transmission to barest minimum.
“Until we do that we will find ourselves spending money on daily basis without achieving much because the impact will be marginal,” he said.
The governor commended the ministry and the global partners for their efforts to enable Nigeria achieve universal health coverage and eliminate malaria.
“The issue of stagnant water is creating problems for us but we are very glad that this advocacy campaign is very vital and the support of the states is truly needed in this regard.
“We will as a state try to stay focused and I will find out what is needed for the counterpart funding from the state.
“I am committed to doing what ought to be done as a state in order to truly get the programme started in the state,” he said.
Okowa said the state offer free medical attention to pregnant women and children under-five years, adding that those set of persons were very vulnerable and needed a lot of attention.
“We are able to fund the payment of their premium in our Contributory Health Commission and it has helped us a lot in the last four years and it is hoped that governments after us will continue with it,” he said.
Earlier, Eze said that the team was in the state on an advocacy visit on malaria, disclosing that malaria had remained a public health challenge in Nigeria, with young children and pregnant women largely affected.
“Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, constituting a huge epidemiologic burden and continues to cripple the economic development in the country.
“It is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Nigeria with young children and pregnant women disproportionately affected.
“It accounts for 60 per cent of outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 per cent of childhood deaths, 11 per cent of maternal death (4,500 die yearly) and 25 per cent of deaths in infants (children aged 1 year),’’ he said.
He said that the Global Fund co-financing condition required that Nigeria should contribute at least 15 per cent of the grant value over the grant period.
Eze added that Delta was required to budget for and release the minimum of N920,234,914 for the control of malaria in the state over the three-year period, at an average of N 306, 744,973.45 annually.
He said that the World Malaria Report 2020, indicated that Nigeria contributed 27 per cent to the malaria burden and 23 per cent about one out of to malaria deaths.
“In Nigeria, malaria kills 9-10 persons every hour. children under-5 years of age remain the most vulnerable group affected by malaria accounting for 67 per cent (272,000) of all malaria deaths. It is a major cause of school absenteeism and low productivity.
“Due to concerted efforts by the Government and donor partners, including the Global Fund to fight AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria, millions of lives have been saved and national prevalence reduced from 42 per cent in 2010 to 27 per cent in 2015) and 23 per cent in 2018.
“A malaria indicator survey (MIS) is being planned this year which will further provide the current prevalence. At the state level (Delta), malaria prevalence has reduced from about 20 per cent in 2015 to 17 per cent in 2018,” he said.
Eze said malaria transmission is complex, requiring many factors to be considered and called for collective collaboration to keep reducing the prevalence in the state and on a national level to ensure achievement of a parasite prevalence of less than 10 per cent.
He also stressed the need to reduce mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2025 as set out in the National Malaria Strategic Plan (2021–2025). (NAN)
